1001Philosophers

Ramanuja Quotes on Knowledge

Ramanuja was an Indian theologian and the most important exponent of Vishishtadvaita, or qualified non-dualism, in the Vedanta tradition. This page collects quotes attributed to Ramanuja on the topic of knowledge, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Ramanuja:

    “God is to be known by service rather than by knowledge alone.”

  • “Ramanuja quotes from the Chandogya Upanishad ; Quoted in: Vivekananda (1913) Vedanta Philosophy: Lectures on Raja Yoga . p. 293.”

    When the food is pure the Sattva element gets purified, the memory becomes unwavering.
  • “What an individual pursues as a desirable end depends upon what he conceives himself to be.”

    Attributed to Ramanuja in: Swami Vivekananda (1979) Awakened India. Vol. 84, p. 206.
  • “Attributed to Ramanuja in: Swami Vivekananda (1979) Awakened India. Vol. 84, p. 206.”

    What an individual pursues as a desirable end depends upon what he conceives himself to be.
  • “Ramanuja. Vedarthasangraha §241, as quoted by Shyam Ranganathan " Rāmānuja (c. 1017 – c. 1137 CE) ," at Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Accessed May 20. 2014.”

    Entities other than Brahman can be objects of such cognitions of the nature of joy only to a finite extent and for limited duration. But Brahman is such that cognizing of him is an infinite and abiding joy. It is for this reason that the shruti [scripture] says, `Brahman is bliss’ ( Taittitriya Upanishad II.6.) Since the form of cognition as joy is determined by its object, Brahman itself is joy.